Compelled to Love

John 13:12-16, 34-35

1.  Agape love

a.  Conditions of this type of love

i.  None. It’s unconditional!

ii.  Intense, complete devotion

2.  God’s Love is the Source

a.  “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)

b.  “This love is only possible because we are grafted into the life and love of Christ. We love as he loved, because we love with his love.” -Piper

3.  Christ’s Love is the Example

a.  “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” vs 15

i.  Humility

ii.  Sacrifice

iii.  Suffering (Physical and Emotional)

b.  Do you trust His love for you?

i.  1 John 3:23, “that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another.”

1.  Believe Him and His love for you and you will love one another. You can’t separate them.

4.  Others are the Recipients

a.  “love one another…if you have love for one another” vs 34-35

5.  Your Love is Now the Example

a.  “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35

b.  This type of love can only come from God, so when others see it, it immediately identifies who the follower belongs to.

6.  Application

a.  Philippians 2:1-8

i.  Am I in Christ?

1.  Then I will find encouragement in that and strive for unity.

ii.  Am I comforted in the love of Christ?

1.  Then I will comfort others in the same way.

iii.  Am I full of joy because of the unity I have with God?

1.  Then I will make my goal to be “of the same mind and the same love” with unity as the goal.

iv.  Am I doing anything from selfish ambition or conceit? Am I humble in this moment and counting that person as more significant than myself? Am I looking to the interests of others or just myself? Am I a servant?

b.  1 Corinthians 13:4-8

i.  Am I patient? Am I kind? Am I envying or boasting? Am I arrogant? Am I rude? Am I insisting on my own way? Am I irritable? Am I resentful? Am I rejoicing in wrongdoing? Am I rejoicing with the truth? Am I bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, and enduring all things? (1 Corinthians 13:4-8